Even with the move to the South, Gathers are still a thing to look forward to, though in the Walled Hold they appear to be called Festivals instead. Either way, Gathers and Festivals are a time of fun to enjoy when they come around.

"I'm sure you won't get tipsy now," R'mia responded. It was clear Ari was cautious enough not to rush through her drink till she knew how it would affect her. He was glad of this as he preferred his company didn't over indulge and lose their senses before they were somewhere private and had intimate plans.

"I don't mind at all," R'mia responded then walked with her to the tables.Once they reached the sitting area, R'mia pulled out a chair for her then scooted it forward once more after Ari sat down. He then took a seat next to her. "My plans was to show you around the Gather so taking a seat and enjoying a glass of wine is all apart of that. The Gather won't vanish if we sit a half candlemark. Besides, this is just as much part of enjoying a Gather as walking among the stalls."

R'mia chuckled lightly when Ari admitted she wan't good at small talk and told him he could ask her any question. "Sounds to me you aren't all that bad at talking at all. Just talk about whatever comes to mind and about whatever interests you. Since you are giving me a free question however, I feel obliged to offer the same to you."

"For my single freebie question, do you have any lovers and if you have what did you like the most of the relationship and what was the least? No names of course, I certainly wouldn't want you to kiss and tell." R'mia gave a charming smile and sipped his wine, wondering if Ari would answer, tell him it was none of his business or blush and not answer at all. He also realized if she did answer she may ask him the very same question, which was fine with him. He had plenty of lovers and could talk about any of them.

It was easier to relax when R'mia reassured her that sitting for a time was perfectly fine, if not part of the Gather experience. It became gradually easier to relax as Ari stopped thinking so much about what R'mia might have had planned. He wanted her to really enjoy the Gather, that was part of why they had decided to meet up, right? So she needed to not worry so much about if he had a rigid plan or not. The fact that it seemed he didn't, though, helped.

Soon though, after more words of encouragement, he accepted her free question, surprising her with what he chose to ask. She hadn't expected that question and felt a bit embarrassed over what her answer would have to be.

"A-actually," she stammered, clearing her throat before continuing. "I haven't had any. Lovers, I mean." She laughed nervously after that. "That sounds bad, huh, a woman my age never having a romantic relationship." She felt her cheeks heat again and took a sip of her wine, thinking of what to say next. She could go on about likely why she hadn't, Myth and all, but she had been bonded to Rosasith for a few turns now and she still hadn't found a relationship anyone would call romantic.

"I don't really have anything I can say to defend myself," she said with a nervous chuckle, lightly scratching the side of her neck for a moment.

((Goodness, sorry if this is not a good post to read. I need to find my writing stride again))

R'mia sipped at his wine. He had expected Ari to be a bit flustered and embarrassed by his question but it seemed she was more uncomfortable not really having a good answer. He didn't think she was a virgin even if she kept her door shut when Myth or even Rosasith had rose.

"That's alright, not everybody has had the chance to be romantically involved," R'mia responded. "Riders do tend to be rather busy taking care of their dragons, protecting Pern from deadly Thread, that sort of thing."

"I have another question but this one you don't have to answer if you don't want to," R'mia continued. "If you could be in any romantic relationship you ever wanted, who would you like to be with? Or if not somebody particular what would your 'dream' partner be like?"

Ari felt a bit of relief that R'mia didn't poke fun at her or say anything negative about her lack of romance in her life. She nodded in agreement as R'mia spoke of riders tending to be busy. Even if she hadn't been busy with Thread before Rosasith, Myth had been her own busy challenge that kept her far too busy for relationships. Although. now she only had the excuse of Thread and Wing drills keeping her busy, and part of her didn't feel it was entirely a good excuse, seeing as plenty of riders had relationships. He seemed to not be judgmental though about her lack of romance, so she was glad for that.

When he asked his next question, giving her the option to not answer if she didn't want to, she looked a little bewildered for a moment. She took another sip of her wine, considering his question thoroughly with a thoughtful hum.

"I don't think I have anyone in particular in mind," she answered initially before thinking for a moment longer. "I guess I don't socialize enough to feel anything like that toward anyone specific. But my dream partner? Hmmm... I guess kind, understanding, I'm sure anyone would say those things though," she said with a chuckle. "Honest probably, but not in that blunt kind of way that just feels mean spirited. Driven. Not that I'm looking for perfection of course, that's just silly. I don't mind someone who might need some help or is a little rough around the edges. I guess to me how people click is what's really important in a relationship, that's truly what I want. Someone that I can feel I easily get along with and gets along with me."

She smiled as she finished, a wistful sort of expression rather than a genuinely pleasant smile. She shook it off though, taking another sip of her wine and noting how much left she had.

Kind, honest, driven, all traits that weren't uncommon in a woman's idea partner, at least not to R'mia's way of thinking. Did he fall in Ari's ideal? R'mia didn't think so, not completely anyway. He did in the past but after what happened in Telgar he no longer felt the drive to settle down. Yet even then he considered himself honest for the most part and kind, definitely driven if his current life goal was to enjoy all the pleasures the world had to offer was the kind of drive she was thinking of. Commitment certainly wasn't something she asked but he was certain she would want a man to possess it.

R'mia downed his wine after Ari asked him much the same question he asked her. Turning the empty goblet in his hand slowly he considered how best to answer. Shrugging he gave her a warm smile. "I had a few relationships in the past, nothing exciting to talk about of course. As for who I would like to be with now, nobody. Besides, never good to talk about some other woman when in the company of such a gorgeous and wonderful woman who I am quite happy to spend time with."

While Ari's Empathy was certainly no lie detector, she did get the feeling that R'mia wasn't being totally honest when he answered her question. She got a tinge of feeling from him, but not the full picture of emotion since he was holding it to himself quite well. She had felt that before though, when they had spoken that first time at the lake. Clearly, something had happened in his past, something relating to a relationship. For a moment, she considered pressing him on it, an internal desire to help bubbling up... but was it really her place when she really didn't know him that well?

"I think it's ok if said woman asked you about it," she responded with a chuckle, drinking some more of her wine, just about finished with it. "I'm sure there's something exciting about one of your past relationships, since I'm sure women flock to you with looks like yours, but I'll take your flattery as an answer instead," she finished with a smile, even if it still made her feel bashful, she was getting a bit more used to it now. The wine was probably helping her just a little bit too as she finished it as well, placing the empty cup onto the table between them.

R'mia arched an eyebrow and grinned. She did have a point after all, Ari did ask. Her comment about the excitement of his past relationships certainly didn't inspire him to talk about them. It was impossible for him to think of the good and not remember the bad so he found it far easier to just avoid thinking about the past and focus on the 'now'. Fortunately she didn't press for answers and accepted his flattery instead.

"Well, that's all and good then," R'mia responded. "And I see you've finished your wine. Shall we strike off to explore the Gather now that our thirst has been quenched? I believe you wanted to visit the Weaver stalls next?"

She nodded when he noted she had finished her wine, standing as he suggested continuing their viewing of the Gather. "That sounds great," she agreed with another smile before they took a moment for Ari to return the goblets to the vitner's stall. Even if she didn't need to, she wanted to make things as easy for the keeper of the stall as possible. It took only a moment, and then they could continue their little journey.

"I don't know if I'll buy anything," she started, scratching the side of her neck briefly, "but it never hurts to look. See what it is that's in fashion these days. I'm sure my dress is terribly out of fashion. I think I've had it for quite a few turns now. Not that I've worn it a lot, so you almost can't tell it's a few turns old."

Once the mugs were handed off to the Vitner, R'mia was ready to enjoy the rest of the Gather with Ari. When she sounded disinclined to buy anything R'mia gave a soft chuckle. "Of course we'll buy something, how often do we have Gathers to go to and spend money at? Besides, everybody can always use a new outfit."

Offering his arm he was ready to escort the sportrider to the Weaver's stall and what he hoped would be a fantastic day together. If it lead to a fun filled evening of fun and pleasure R'mia certainly won't complain. If it didn't then he'll make their time together as memorial as he could.

Ari chuckled when he seemed to insist they would buy something from the Weaver. He had a point though, chuckling again and nodding.

"I suppose you're right," she conceded as she took his offered arm so he could escort her around as he desired. She enjoyed her time at the Gather with him, realizing all she had missed for turns of not going to Gathers or only going by herself. She might not have quite been sure how she felt about R'mia. He was clearly kind, even if he had something he was keeping to himself, but she wasn't really entirely sure what she was looking for. What sort of feeling she wanted to feel to tell her she was onto to something with someone. She enjoyed her time with him though at the Gather.

"I'm glad I accepted your offer to come to the Gather with you," she told him at some point during their time together at the Gather. Ari didn't think she would spend the night with R'mia, but she thought about perhaps getting him something to show her appreciation for showing her a good time at the Gather and keeping her company.

((Sounds good to me, thank you for being so patient with me through this thread. <3 ))